UKOI: Luxury cottages in nature

 

UKOI – is a network of mobile homes for rent, created with the need for rest, peace and contact with nature in mind. It has been founded by Bartłomiej Kraciuk and Nikodem Rozbicki, owners of ODPOCZNIJ S.A. Modern modules give the opportunity to focus on oneself surrounded by nature. The idea is based on mobile homes for rent, located in carefully selected locations. The houses allow you to enjoy modern style and hotel comfort, while giving you the opportunity to be close to nature. About the history of their creation, ecological aspects and plans, Anna Domin asked the founders themselves: Bartłomiej Kraciuk, a social entrepreneur who has been operating in the hospitality industry for 14 years, co-creator of Bookworm Cabin and Artbook Cabin houses and Gniazdow by the river, and Nikodem Rozbicki, a film and TV actor, who made his debut in the film “Bejbi Blues” awarded at the Berlin Film Festival.

 

Photos: Paweł Olszówka

 

Anna Domin: UKOI is a very innovative project, unconventional and changing the approach to the idea of resting. What is the story behind you starting to work together?

 

Bartek: Answering in one sentence, the idea is certainly the result of our mutual passion. I have been working in the hospitality industry for almost 15 years. Previously, I was dealing with restaurants, bars, clubs in urban spaces, and now I am focused on cottages for rest outside of a city. A few years ago I successfully launched Bookworm Cabin, the first venture in this direction. I was constantly thinking about creating something even more uncompromising and this idea was clarified during conversations with Nikodem. We were both looking for such an asylum, somewhere away from the city, where everyone would be able to calm down and experience the closeness of nature, but still in comfortable conditions.

 

Nikodem: We had already worked together with Bartek before, we knew each other and we were aware of a similar approach to business and similar expectations. When we met, I had the idea of creating a kind of hermitage. UKOI is a synergy of our thoughts. Together we came to the conclusion that we want to create a place for a wide group of recipients, focusing on the highest quality, distinctive design, modern technology and, above all, comfort transferred from hotel rooms to the sights of nature.

 

UKOI fits perfectly into many trends that we can observe today – slow travel, wellbeing, return to nature, sustainable design, searching for balance, practicing mindfulness. There are probably a few more that could be added…

 

Bartek: There is no denying that these trends result from the needs that appear in society. They also apply to ourselves. We also create, feel and draw from them in the same way. Certainly, the pandemic itself has changed a lot in the collective consciousness and strengthened this kind of need. Places like ours, which escape common standards, have a uniqueness that is now in demand. 

 

Nikodem: The very idea of UKOI was not a calculation of what pays off today. It was the answer to our needs. I am a total bourgeois, I was born in Warsaw, I finished school and studies here, my life revolves here. At some point, I was looking for places that would be close to the city, but at the same time give me a chance to take a break from it. And it turned out that I am not alone in this.

 

Truly, you are not alone, which is probably best confirmed by the number of people who have invested in your idea. You decided on crowdfunding, this choice of financing turned out to be right and also fits in with the current investing trends.

 

Nikodem: In our business model, and also in the whole philosophy, it is extremely important to build a community, connecting people who believe in similar values. Crowdfunding gives you the opportunity to participate in business and co-create UKOI. For us, it was also an opportunity for efficient development and implementation of further plans. It turned out that there are more people like us. This is tangible proof for us that this project makes sense.

 

Photos: Paweł Olszówka

 

This is certainly confirmed by the fact that it is difficult to find a free booking spot in this microhotel, especially during the weekend. However, let’s talk about the house itself, because you put a lot of emphasis on its design. The Warsaw-based Moszczyńska Puchalska Studio Architektury studio is responsible for the design of the house. Their portfolio consists of offices, service premises and apartments, both in Polish cities and in Paris, Nice, Hamburg and London. To this long list, you can now add UKOI micro hotels with a sky window, unparalleled anywhere else. What else makes your project exceptional?

 

Bartek: We strongly focus on the quality and durability of UKOI houses. Especially today, it is very important to approach design responsibly from the very beginning. We produce UKOI in a Polish factory. It is made of computer-cut elements, which means that it has excellent thermal insulation parameters and consumes much less energy. Thanks to mobile solutions, the houses can be made available to guests in isolated, picturesque places, without interfering with the surrounding ecosystem. We also wanted the house to blend in with the landscape as much as possible, which is why we decided to make the facade of a wooden shingle. Thanks to this, it fits perfectly with the neighboring forest, which was what our designers wanted. On the other hand, the giant roof window allows you to observe the sky, stars or clouds, which is in its own extremely soothing and magical. The interior itself has also been very well thought out – the entire functional layout has been designed so that you can feel very comfortable despite only a dozen or so square meters. The arrangement of cabinets, lighting with natural light, the use of natural materials, high-quality equipment – this makes our guests receive full luxury that they could experience in traditional hotels. Here they get something more – an extraordinary experience of nature and its beauty, but also seclusion or a kind of intimacy that they will not find in regular hotels.

 

Nikodem: This is a multi-layered undertaking. Many elements add up to the experience that can be gained while staying in the house – design, preparation, communication method, or equipment – a whole lot of details that in the end provide a sense of comfort, but also uniqueness. A particularly interesting technological solution is the Norwegian Cinderella toilet, which gets rid of all waste by incineration. The rest of the bathroom was equipped by our partner, the OMNIRES brand, whose products perfectly match the refined style of the houses. We are also united by common goals: good design, durability, care for the environment. Each element of UKOI has been thought out by us to harmonize with the whole.

 

I think it’s probably very important, because we are a generation extremely used to some kind of luxuries. Today we cannot live without a telephone, wifi or electricity. Exactly, how much of what we cannot function without is included in UKOI houses?

 

Nikodem: We do not want to deprive anyone of any modern comforts, quite the opposite. We want the cottage to be equipped so that guests have the feeling of full access to what is available in traditional hotels. There is electricity, hot water, and a kitchen where one can cook something. There are towels, fridge with a freezer. We also took care of the entire process of servicing the house. Everyone who comes to UKOI feels this hotel context in terms of prepared towels and bedding, cleanliness and freshness, and I consider this very important, especially when you want to relax.

 

Bartek: We also try to use new technologies in a sustainable way. We have recently started cooperation with Storytel, thanks to which guests coming to UKOI houses have the opportunity to listen to audiobooks for free. They can choose them on their own from the library or use the reading room prepared especially for UKOI. This is an extra option that you can use during your stay. We do not impose how our guests should spend their time, because rest is a very individual matter.

 

At the beginning of the year, you announced that due to many inquiries, you are working on the design of houses that will be available for purchase and private ownership. You note that these will be slightly different houses than UKOI. Can you tell us more about the new project?

 

Bartek: In fact, when it comes to quality, durability and, above all, design, we remain faithful to our philosophy. If we do something, we want it to be sustainable and responsible. The houses for sale are designed for 4 people, not just for two. They also have a slightly changed appearance, but the same functional layout has been left, which works perfectly.

 

Nikodem: We took all the best elements from the micro-hotel version of the houses and optimized them for individual recipients. The first UKOI MIO house is already in production, and we are collecting orders for the next ones.  

 

Nikodem Rozbicki, Bartłomiej Kraciuk, photo: Paweł Olszówka